Olympiads are conducted to improve problem-solving and analytical skills in school students. Read this post to know how to prepare for Science Olympiad.
Scoring well in any competitive exams is based on your study plan and time management. These two factors define how well you are prepared for the examination. One such exam is Olympiad that is broadly aimed at promoting skills and knowledge on specific subjects in students from classes 1 to 12. Olympiad exams are conducted by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF), an educational non-profit organization. The organization takes six Olympiad exams each year at the national and international levels. As these exams provide various advantages, students must consider how to crack the SOF Olympiad 2021.
What is Science Olympiad?
Science Olympiad examinations are conducted for classes 1 to 12 every year. These exams are organized through schools only. They are conducted on multiple levels, i.e., – regional, state, national and international. The exams help improve in-depth knowledge and understanding of science concepts. They test students based on their knowledge and analytical skills. They are also helpful to those who aim to appear for national entrance exams like JEE. Following the various Science Olympiads and the stages in which they are conducted:
Major Science Olympiads are:
- Unicus Science Olympiad (USO)
- National Science Olympiad (NSO)
- CREST Science Olympiad (CSO)
- ASSET – Science – Exam Date:
- International Olympiad of Science (IOS)
- Humming Bird Science Olympiad (HSO)
- National Interactive Science Olympiad (NISO)
The Science Olympiad program follows 5 stages:
Stage I: National Standard Examinations (NSE)
Stage II: Indian National Olympiad (INO)
Stage III: Orientation cum Selection Camp (OCSC)
Stage IV: Pre-departure Training Camp (PDT)
Stage V: Participation in International Olympiad (IO).
The national Olympiad program for 2020-21 in Science subjects (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Junior Science, and Physics) has been canceled due to the COVID-19.
Science Olympiad – syllabus for class 1 to 10 – Logical Reasoning, Science and Achievers Section
For class 11 & 12 – Physics & Chemistry, Achievers Section and Mathematics/Biology
How to Prepare for Sof Olympiad 2021
Get to Know the Pattern of Science Olympiad
Know the syllabus and exam pattern before appearing for the Olympiad. Once you understand the paper pattern, you are halfway through your preparation. Students preparing for science Olympiad exams must start their preparation by understanding the pattern of the exams. Students must learn the latest exam pattern based on their corresponding class. The exam contains MCQs with one correct answer. The SOF National Science Olympiad is conducted on two levels. Level 1 is organized for the participants from classes 1 to 12, while level 2 is conducted for classes 3 to 12.
Prepare Your Timetable
Preparation forms an important part of any competitive exam. It is important to make a study plan before getting down to study. Preparing for the science Olympiad together with the school studies can draw a burden on you. It is important to organize your daily plan smartly by preparing a timetable. The school books will be easy for you to study tougher questions for the science Olympiad later. You must distribute the subject into main topic segments. You should also color code important insight for future references.
Understand the Standard of NSO Questions
Any type of questions can come in the science Olympiad. You should expect these questions of varying difficulty levels. The NSO questions test the logical and observational skills of the students in addition to the conceptual knowledge. Since the exam doesn’t ask direct questions, practicing previous years’ question papers will help you clear your concept and understanding of NSO questions’ standards. Understand the fact that these are not your normal school exams. The difficulty level here is much higher than your normal school exams.
Get the Best Books and Study Materials
Studying with the right books and study materials will be helpful to ace SOF Olympiad 2021. You must thoroughly understand the NSO syllabus and study course books based on your class. Apart from this, there are many books available for SOF national science Olympiad preparation. These include SOF Olympiad Trainer’s Mobile Apps, MTG class-wise books, Olympiad Skill Development System, etc. You also must look for previous years’ papers, mock tests, and other study materials. You can also take advice from your seniors, regarding study material and books.
Practice Sample Papers
Special emphasis is given to solving the previous year’s question papers whenever appearing for a national-level exam. Qualifying for NSO Olympiad requires hard work and regular practice. You must study your school books as well as practice previous years’ papers beforehand. This will help you tackle questions in the exam and improve your confidence to solve them with speed and efficiency. Additionally, practicing mock tests and previous years’ sample papers help you understand the SOF NSO exam’s difficulty level. This will allow you to make a proper strategy to attempt maximum questions with the right pace and accuracy.
Execute the Plan of Action
After making a proper strategy, you must execute the plan of action to prepare for the NSO. You should challenge yourself and set long goals. Practicing this time will help you immensely and prepare you to sit for future competitive exams. You also need to manage your time, motivate yourself and be healthy physically and mentally. Besides, adhering to the syllabus is highly imperative. It is also essential to step out of your comfort zone, think ‘Out of the Box,’ and solve a puzzle every day.
National Science Olympiad 2nd Level
National Science Olympiad (NSO) is one of the Olympiad exams conducted by the SOF. This exam is being held for every class from 1 to 12. National Science Olympiad exams help bring out the best in a child.
The SOF NSO is conducted at two levels. The first level is organized in the respective schools of the participants during school hours. This exam level contains 35 MCQs to be solved in 60 minutes for classes 1 to 4 while 50 MCQs for classes 5 to 12. The level 1 question paper comprises three sections:
Section-1: Logical Reasoning
Section-2: Science
Section-3: Achievers Section
The NSO level 2 competition is organized for students from classes 3 to 12. Students who qualify for the second round would include:
- Top 5% of candidates, class-wise, who appear in the 1st level exam internationally.
- Top 25 rank holders from each of both Zone and class.
- Class topper where a minimum of 10 students from a class appear in the exam and scores a minimum of 50%.
The level 2 exam pattern is entirely different from the school exams. The syllabus of NSO level 2 is the same as level 1. However, the difficulty level will be higher than level 1. Most students could not be able to secure a good rank in NSO level 2. This is major because they lack the skills to attempt the paper. The level 2 paper is based on multiple concept applications and multiple domains of intelligence. So, it is important to get the best and enriched study materials.
Best Books for SOF Olympiad 2021
- Students must know the right books to score good marks in the examination when it comes to Olympiad preparations. Below are some of the best SOF Olympiad books worth considering:
- International Mathematics Olympiad Work Book -Class 2 by Mahabir Singh
- National Science Olympiad Workbook -Class 4 by Anil Ahlawat
- National Science Olympiad Workbook -Class 5 by Anil Ahlawat
- National Science Olympiad Workbook – Class 11by Anil Ahlawat
- MTG Class wise Workbooks (For Class 1 to 12)
- MTG Olympiad Prep-Guide Mathematics Class – 3
- International English Olympiad Workbook – Class 3 (2020-21) by Zarrin Ali Khan
- International Mathematics Olympiad Work Book (IMO) – Class 12 by Mahabir Singh
- WorkBook Combo for NSO-IMO-NCO – Class 11 by Meetu Misra
- National Cyber Olympiad Work Book (NCO) – Class 12 by Meetu Misra
Final Thoughts
Science Olympiad is designed to test students’ theoretical knowledge of science subjects and their creative applications and concepts. So, prepare hard with proper time management and practice topics regularly. Whether you appear for this exam, or not, it’s completely your choice. However, if you do plan to appear, make sure you prepare for it and then appear. These exams are also a means to analyze your skill sets and know about your strong and weak areas. Post the exam each student gets their result which evaluates them based on various parameters. So, go prepared and ace the exam.
